To many, he was just another one of Bill Parcells' disciples, a hard-working Dallas Cowboys assistant coach who stayed away from the limelight.

To others, Payton, who served as an assistant in Dallas from 2003-2005 before becoming the head coach of the New Orleans Saints, was always an astute coach with a great mind for attacking defenses.

"Well, for me, it was an important training ground," Payton said. "Organizationally, being with that team was very helpful. From a coaching aspect, working under Bill, it was a very important stop for me professionally. And those three years, I learned a lot."

Payton, who guided the Saints to their first Super Bowl in February, will again get to show the Cowboys just how much he learned during his time in Dallas, as he'll lead the Saints (7-3) into a game against the surging Cowboys (3-7) today at Cowboys Stadium, the site of this season's Super Bowl.

'His mind was always turning'

Several Cowboys players said they knew it was only a matter of time before Payton enjoyed success on his own.

"He was always proactive with what he was trying to do," Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said. "You always knew that he was an aggressive play-caller. He was so smart in everything that he did. As a young player that was great to see because he taught you so much about the game.

"When he was here with us, it always seemed like he knew when to take shots down the field. You always felt like Bill was having to bring him back instead of letting him be creative. He always had something new each week. It just seems like his mind was always turning."

Apparently it hasn't stopped. Since leaving the Cowboys, where Payton's attacking, multi-faceted offensive philosophy was often handcuffed by the more conservative Parcells, Payton's star has only risen and shined brighter.

Since arriving in New Orleans, the Saints' offense has annually ranked among the NFL's best, as he has led them to two NFC title games and last season's Super Bowl.

"You knew he'd be successful as an offensive coordinator, but to see what he has done with that team to make them champions like that, you just take your hat off to him," Witten said.

Even in success, Payton has always been complimentary of his time in Dallas, often praising Parcells.

In his book "Home Team," Payton spent two chapters rehashing his time as an assistant with the Cowboys, painting owner Jerry Jones in a favorable light and discussing how he forged a strong bond with Parcells.

Before 2003, though, Payton had never met Parcells.

But when Parcells needed an offensive assistant, it was Payton he wanted. And it didn't take Payton, who had watched his role with the New York Giants diminish, long to agree to join the Cowboys.

"Well, what had happened going back, I had one year left on my contract in New York," Payton said. "So after the season ended, I went in and talked with (Giants general manager) Ernie Accorsi and Coach (Jim) Fassell about, hey, if an opportunity arises. Then Parcells, who I hadn't met before, actually called me and we spoke, and I did get permission. And he hired me over the phone, and the first time I met him we were flying to Dallas."

Payton spent three seasons with the Cowboys as assistant head coach and passing game coordinator.

Coaching theatrics

Dave Oxford/The Associated PressSean Payton talks with New York Giants quarterback Jason Garrett during training camp Aug. 3, 2003, during his days as offensive coordinator. Garrett is now the interim coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

While the Cowboys' offense was never quite as explosive as Payton's units with the Saints, his time in Dallas was a success. His offenses ranked in the top half of the league each season and the Cowboys had winning records two of the three years.

"He was a good guy," Cowboys center Andre Gurode said. "He was a good coordinator. He was a good coach. He was very business-minded about getting the job done and doing things the right way.

"I knew he was a real good coach and I knew he was going to make the best of his opportunity. And he certainly did. You don't know until you are put into that position. He was put in that position and he made the best of it."

But not many got to see or hear about his passion for Juicy Fruit gum or his in-your-face game-day coaching theatrics.

Those traits were simmering inside the coach but did not bubble out until he reached the Saints.

"You always knew he was no-nonsense, and when you got in there it was all ball," Witten said. "It's not that he was Bill-like, but you could always tell that he was soaking all that in. He was always taking notes, writing down."

Cowboys interim coach Jason Garrett said he knew long before Payton left the Giants that he had the intangibles to be a top coach.

Garrett spent three years with Payton in New York, serving as the Giants' backup quarterback, while sponging up all the knowledge he could from the young play-caller.

"I consider Sean a good friend," Garrett said. "I consider him a mentor, someone who I had a great time playing for in New York. I played for him for three years.

"I learned a tremendous amount from him about playing quarterback and also about offensive football, and really about style of coaching as well. He was always a guy who was very demanding about people but he also made the game fun for you. You wanted to come to work, you wanted to go out to practice, you wanted to listen to him in meetings. He's just an awfully good football coach. I cherish that time we had together because I learned so much from him."